
Northern Utah’s Laketown is a rural community with a population of just 299 on the South end of Bear Lake. The area offers beautiful lake views, summer recreation, and miles of agriculture. Brandon Willis, owner of Rancher’s Insurance, provides agriculture insurance to farmers and ranchers – but that’s not all. Brandon helps his community as a farmer, council member, family man, teacher, and entrepreneur.
Brandon started his small insurance business in 2017 and operated for many years out of a Conex container. In recent months, he completed a large timber barn that provides a beautiful rustic place for local events and includes office space for his insurance company. Brandon and his family also operate 300 acres of irrigated land. His small farm includes two greenhouses for flowers, and allows the family to grow and sell pumpkins and sweet corn. Willis also teaches courses at Utah State University.
In November 2023, USDA Rural Development awarded Rancher’s Insurance a $97,385 grant through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Grant funds were used to purchase and install a 69.75-kilowatt solar array that will replace approximately 114,500 kilowatt hours per year.
Although their solar project has been in operation for only a few days, Brandon is optimistic; “The hope is, with the REAP grant, basically, Ranchers Insurance can save $12,000 to $13,000 a year in electrical bills.” The savings will benefit both his agriculture operations and his small business, in helping offset some of their annual energy costs. The savings will be a welcome reward in cost savings and efficiency.
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. Applications are open for Fiscal Year 2025, with the next deadline of March 31, 2025. The program is open to agriculture producers, small businesses, cooperatives, tribal corporations or tribal business entities, and electric utilities in rural areas. For more information, contact landon.mayer@usda.gov or visit our website at rd.usda.gov/ut